This week I got the GREAT experience of finally getting a library card for my new area. I was so excited I went right down a bookshelf and got a book right away. Not only is it a great place to find free books to read, but for me it meant free books I could hold. I’ve loved eBooks since I was able to start reading off my phone, but after so long having only electronic versions, I was dying to read a book I could hold.

This got me thinking about people who sell just eBooks and don’t branch out into hard-copies. Is this really helpful or not? I don’t think there is any set answer. I think it’s different for each genre, book, and audience. So what do you think? I want to get some discussion here.

As well as getting the itch for hard-copies after so long without them, I noticed I get a lot more interest and sales from strangers I tell about my books and even in my regular marketing from my hard-copies (Both paperback and hardcover)

Let me make it clear I love both eBooks and hardcopy books. I love that a eBook is easy to carry around because I already carry my phone around with me. I can just pick it up without the extra weight. It’s a wonderful help.

Yet a hardcopies have amazing advantages too. I feel like curling up in a nice arm chair with a book feels better than curling up with a cellphone or eReader. (Plus for me and my sleep disorder it’s good to have a book that doesn’t have the blue light that keeps me up. (Or whatever color the bad light is)). So what does that mean for making the most our of our writing?

The truth is, I don’t know. But what do you think?What’s worked for you and what hasn’t worked. Why or why not? Do eBooks have a unique magic too? Can we use that to help sell more ebooks? I want to hear different opinions and I want to hear your opinion. Please comment on this post and tell me your thoughts.

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R. M. Donaldson

Rebekah Mae Donaldson was born in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1994. Soon after, she moved to Sacramento, Californian where she spent her childhood. Being homeschooled her entire school career, she had plenty of time to work on her writing. At the age of nine, seeing her brother try his hand at writing, she taught herself to type in one day and has gone hardly a day without writing to this day.
Every day was an adventure and writing books based those adventures came as naturally as breathing. These daily games and adventures equaled up to twelve manuscripts. Listening and making up stories were as essential as food and drink. She performed in two plays a year during high school. She learned how to become and truly love a character. “Storytelling is story living, we all learn by experiencing a story, wither our own or someone else’s.” She says.
Between the start and finish of her first book “The Custodian Chronicles: The Rising”, she served a service mission with her1505348_10201308356766194_805790604_n church for eighteen months in the St. George, Utah and Kanab, Utah areas. During that time, she saw the beauty of nature and of human nature that she weaves into her works.
Apart from reading and writing, she enjoys swimming, hiking, and seeing shows with friends and family. She currently attends Brigham Young University-Idaho studying in Communications and English.
As well as writing novels, she offers services as a freelance writer for story writing, articles and interviews. She also provides, Copy-editing, Substance Editing and Development Editing. Use contact page to discuss individual pricing and time frame.

2 thoughts on “eBook vs Hardcopy for Sales”

Personally, I prefer the feel of the physical copy of a book. That said, having ebooks is much more convenient, and I’ve expanded my library through the kindle. As far as sales go, there is still a major split between those who want physical and those who want kindle. To cover both areas is the best solution, I think. I’ve had several people tell me that they are holding out for a hardcover version because they collect books and want a signed copy. I’ve had a local used (and new) bookstore tell me once I have Winter’s Bite as a physical copy, they will both put a few copies out and hold a book signing event for me. I have other people who want to buy a few copies of paperback. There is definitely interest, although looking at the pricing it feels like it’s hard to compete with the established authors out there. When Amazon tells me I must charge at least 8.59 for the paperback and I look at other paperbacks in the bookstore that are 8.99 I see the 1000+ page Game of Thrones books and laugh as mine clocks in at around 300 pages. Which will people I don’t know invest their $10 in? I guess I’m just hesitant because I have no name recognition (yet) and therefore feel unworthy to price myself with the top artists. So I remain in ebook land, picking up a little at a time. Hehe.